JimF-LowBari

I was at 1975 DCA and it was a three way race between Cabs, Sky and Buccs with each corps taking one caption (M&M, horns, GE) award. Throw in heavy rains off and on during the end of the night (last few corps marched on a wet field and retreat got monsooned out) it had to have been one of the most dramatic DCA Finals ever. PS - Yankee Rebels (took high drums in '75) were like Westshore and a few other corps. Had a few years where they came out like gang busters and no one quite knew why.

What manufacturers on the horns, or is it a mixed bag?

Thanks Jim, it's references to the "little kid" IC Reveries that had me going batty. First it was references after 27th was formed (wait a minute ). Then a line that had IC Reveries being a feeder corps to...... IC Reveries

Now I'm at a PC where I can actually see Old Ohios pics sweeeeett!! I don't see a year on the yellow banner. Wonder if Allentown trotted it out for more than one year. If so, the mystery corps might be from another year. (Time to check Rons Prelim scores.) Anyone have a pic of Excalibur from Erie?????

1984 Westshoremen went into rebuild mode (again) and only showed up for Prelims. Uniform was the black with blue trim with white Aussies used from 1979 until at least 1985. (Aussies from 1980 to ???). No idea on the pic but corps looks really small..... General Butler Vagabonds???? PS - Here's non top 10 at Prelims, maybe the names will help 11 Empire Statesmen 69.55 12 Rochester Crusaers 66.70 13 L'Odysee 65.95 14 Guelph Royalaires 64.20 15 Westshoremen 61.60 16 General Butler Vagabonds 58.00 17 Spirit of '76 53.95 18 Erie Thunderbirds 52.90 19 Keystoners 42.55 Psst - Anyone have a pic of Westshores 84-85 Main Guard??? If so I might be in it.

OK... Think I see one miscommunication here <mebbe> Joe - Boston = Boston, MA area LancerFi - Boston = Boston Crusaders I think.... LancerFi, read that the original IC Reveries were dissolved by the church because of "too many corps members didn't belong to the church" and that... err.. sit down thing in the late 1960s. Did the later Reveries end up as part of the multi-corps North Star corps????? And totally confused about a reference I saw about the IC Reveries as a feeder corps after the first corps was dissolved. Were there ever two Reveries at the same time?

Huge DC is Boston area is right. Drove to NH last year and just about every friggin' exit around the Boston beltway was a town that had a corps. Most I remember had "Saint" in front of the name. Question from a non-Catholic, non-Bostonian who discoved DC in 1974. Were the corps sponsored by the individual churches as part of CYO? If so that could be part of the reason for the big drop off of Boston area (Catholic based corps).

We were at the 1985 ICA Championships at Erie aka the Great Erie Monsoon fest. Hmmm, did couple of other ICA shows in 1985 but not 1984 as we were rebuilding. Did you check www.srcorps.com as think Ron has some shows listed under the 1980s area. Possible Yankee-Rebels (early 80s version) did some shows but can't remember.

No acronyms, I'd just point at parts of my body going from feet to head while muttering what uniform part belongs on what body part and did I pack it. ie... shoes, socks, pants, shorts, black t shirt, jacket, gloves, doo rag, shako, plume.... aaaahhh oh yeah, HORN!!!! My wife thinks it's hilarious. :P Yeah - no more cumberbund, gauntlets and red rag (1979 Westshore GE thing)

Audubon Bon Bons All Girl Alumni have a chorus instead of a instrument group. Have only seen them do the National Anthem but great sound. Have seen a few others mentioned but not sure if they were before the group bought the horns 'n drums or an additional group. Want to think Reilly but having a brain pharte. Wow, just had a flashback of Westshoremen at Serenade in Brass indoor concert doing the National Anthem by "la"ing the notes instead of playing. Wonder if there is a tape somewhere in my basement.

Wouldn't mind a competing Mini corps near home myself Gene. Guess I'd better save up for when my parading days are over. :(

That's one of the great things about DCP. You can learn new things or clear up any misunderstandings (hopefully) without getting slammed. Don't think I read the full I&E rules but the entry form has a line to list past/present All Age or current Alumni corps membership. (At least I remember entering one of each and wondering what the heck Barb would do whith that. :P ) And from what I heard, Mickey thought the idea of Alumni corpa was great and wanted to help present them to the current DCA fans. Add nothing to do Sunday morning DCA weekend and voila.... Alumni Spectacular. Last year was the first time I made either the Alumni or Mini shows. Great and appreiative crowd, made Minis late and had crappy seats because of the crowd size.

Believe I read the biggest crowd for a Drum Corps show was 60K at Miami for 1960 American Legion Championships. No I don't want to go to Miami. And no, I don't know the blood alcohol content of the crowd either.

Wasn't Dover 4th of July weekend? If so CG did a crapload of parades in Maryland that weekend to make real good $$$$. And Southern PA/NJ would be about the same drive time as Atlanta. Have a bro-in-law in Raleigh and have heard all the driving times ad nasium.....

Well I was playing around a bit with my post since my corps competed in DCA sanctioned shows before they actually became a DCA member. Had to do with only top 10 corps at DCA Prelims became full DCA members the following year. So you actually had non-DCA corps at DCA shows. Not sure what the DCA membership rules for corps is today. IMO, DCA just opened up I&E to anyone who even is/was an All Age/Senior corps member regardless of if that corps made DCA membership. From what I understand DCI I&E is open to all current Jr corps members. Not just members of corps who ranked high enought to be a "DCI member" (top 17?) corps. Of course the big difference is you have to be a current Jr corps member to be in DCI I&E. DCA is nice enough to allow olde phartes like me in. (Entered this year but now I can't make the trip. :( ) Also have to smile at the "All Age Alumni" bit because some of the corps at the Alumni Spectular were Junior corps back when they competed. Scout House, Boston Crusaders and Blessed Sac come to mind but Sac did try one year (1975) as a Sr corps but did not make full DCA membership (came in 13th or 14th).

Oh man, flashbacks to Philadelphia vs Pittsburgh arguements at college. Phily calls it Soda and da Brugh calls it Pop. Arguement ran: Pitt guy - Soda is what we say to get carbonated water PERIOD! Philly guy - Yeah, well Pop is the guy who pays my tution Both - Hey Jim you're from the middle of the state, Whadda you call it!!!!! Me: We call it soda pop, shut the #### UP!!

Yeah, a bit of confusion here with Mini and Chorus' membership according to "what's written down". But "current or former All Age member" does not always mean "current or former DCA corps" member. Some All Age (aka Senior) corps never did or made DCA membership. "All Age Alumni Corps" :P Well yeah a bunch ARE All Age but.....

Actually related in a way but I didn't tie it in too well (or at all). Trying to show that all city church based youth activities, including Drum Corps, have declined to the point of non-existance in many places (DCI or no DCI). Also we all can't make blanket statements that what caused the decline in youth based activites is <insert reason> because areas are different. Would be like saying the youth problems found in Renovo, PA (very depressed area in the middle of Northern PA no where) are caused by the same problems as in Watts, Los Angeles. But I'm discussing "Is DCI killing Drum Corps" by looking at the history of drum corps going downhill and what DCI has to do with it. If the title was "Is DCI killing DC in 2006" then any historical discussion might be Off Topic.

Jeff, please keep us informed of any gigs the corps will be doing. Just 'cause ya ain't competing doesn't mean we don't want to see ya!!!! Yeah, I know, flag for using a triple negative.

Regarding the Scouting movement it depends on the area. In the city area around my old church BSA troops are about totally dead due to costs to Scouts, costs to sponsors and lack of parental help (or parents period). My old troop closed (after 50-60 years) mostly due to lack of help and old leaders were just that.... too old to be more active. The church sponsor was able to give the troop a meeting area and that was it. Even the canoes were sold because they had not been used in 20+ years. (All this from the leader who closed the troop.) In my new suburban church, the BSA troop is doing well thanks to $$$$ and enough people to help out. But I would like to know the BSAs position on having a troop sponsored by a church with openly gay members. PS - Also thought BSA did not allow openly gay Scouts. Or am I getting that confused with not allowing atheist Scouts?

Man, thinking what's out in that corner of the state and :( . About 4-5 hours to Reading and Rochester for competative corps. But MVE seemed to have that small corps family type feel from the posts I read. Geez, can think of 3 Alumni corps in a shorter drive but no no competative corps. Again MVE was filling a big empty hole in that area for DC. :(

Well I just heard from THE expert on the subject, thank you Brian. North Port was the corps I was thinking about earlier as I just missed seeing them in VA back in May. And would that be Renaissnace as in Wind Gap, PA? Think that group has been Sr/Jr/Alumni under either Renaissance or earlier(?) Blue Eagles name. Or possibly the group that's been forming out of York (can't recall that name). Too bad I don't like near Chicago for the ROTC champs, sounds real interesting. b**bs PS - In my spare time I'm working on a list of corps and years active on what info I can find. (Mainly on line and History of DC books.) I've found new respect for DC historians.

And if we've looking at differences between DC sponsorship in the 50s/60 and today don't forget what happened to the cities. How many "do it for the good of the kids" corps went under because the sponsor went downhill or under since. Thinking mainly churches here but same with other groups like the Legion. To put it another way, go to where the sponsor used to be and see if that sponsor even exists or how poor the area is. Used to be on church council for a city Lutheran church and went to an info session on this because the church is going down the tubes. I went in thinking "What are we (my church) doing wrong?". Came out with the feeling of "Ain't just us, we're all ####ed". LOT of things I heard about city problems apply to the defunct city corps.

Wow Jeff, sorry about the corps dropping from competition. Best of luck in the local programs and we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Had 72 on record and have 79 on CD and problem is you can barely hear the beginning of DB because the corps is (really) facing away from the mics. Is there any recording where you can hear the intro without cranking the speakers?